“Moav was very alarmed by the nation because they were numerous, and Moav was dreaded by the children of Israel” (Numbers 22:3). “Moav was…alarmed [vayagor]” – what is vayagor? When Israel appeared to the Amonites, they appeared garbed for peace, but to the Moavites, they appeared armed for war, as it is written: “You will approach opposite the children of Amon; do not besiege them [tetzurem] [and do not provoke [titgar] them]” (Deuteronomy 2:19).
“Do not tetzurem” – do not cause them [tatzar] any kind of trouble [tzara]; “and do not titgar them” – any kind of provocation [girui]. But regarding Moav, He said: “Do not besiege Moav, and do not provoke war with them” (Deuteronomy 2:9). War you may not wage, but whatever you can seize from them, seize. That is why they appeared armed to Moav, so they [the Moavites] gathered in their cities, as vayagor is nothing other than an expression of gathering, as it is stated: “One who gathers [oger] during the summer is a wise son” (Proverbs 10:5).
Another matter, vayagor is an expression meaning stranger [ger]; they considered themselves strangers in the world.6The Moavites viewed themselves as strangers while the Israelites were the permanent residents. Meaning, they were afraid that the Israelites would overcome them, turning them into strangers in their own land. They said: ‘They descended to Egypt to sojourn there, but they seized it and would rent houses to them, as it is stated: “Each woman will borrow…from her neighbor and from the resident of her house”’ (Exodus 3:22).
Another matter, vayagor, an expression of fear, as they were afraid because they saw all the nations in the possession of Israel, as Siḥon came and took the land of Moav: “And he battled against the first king of Moav, [and took all his land from his possession]” (Numbers 21:26), and Og took all the land of the children of Amon, as it is stated: “As only Og, king of the Bashan [was left…in Raba of the children of Amon]” (Deuteronomy 3:11).
Israel came and took it from both of them, and there is no injustice.7Even though Israel were not allowed to conquer Amon or Moav, they were allowed to conquer lands that had belonged to Amon and Moav that had been conquered by Siḥon and Og. These would see their land in Israel’s possession and would say: ‘Did the Holy One blessed be He not say to them: “As I will not give you of its land as an inheritance”? (Deuteronomy 2:9).
But our land is before them.’ That is why they were afraid.8They were afraid that Israel would also try to conquer Moav. “Moav was dreaded [vayakotz]” – they saw themselves as thorns [kotzim] before them.